Keen to diversify its economy further away from oil, Abu Dhabi is looking to position itself as the fintech hub for the Middle East and Africa, backed by projects such as the RegLab sandbox. James King reports.

Banks that do business with Iran should bear in mind the legal, political, financial and reputational risks to both the company and its employees.

The United Arab Emirates minister of state for international co-operation, who is also the director-general of Expo 2020 Dubai, assesses the potential of this mega-event to engineer an economic and business boost for the entire Middle East, Africa and south Asia region.

The drop in oil prices and regional unrest have seen Arab banks struggle to maintain their stellar profit results of previous years, but overall their performances remain impressive by global standards.

The merger between National Bank of Abu Dhabi and FGB could well trigger a series of consolidatory moves across the Gulf's banking sector. But will this lead to the emergence of a handful of regional powerhouses? Kit Gillet assesses the situation.

Liquidity in the Saudi Arabian banking sector has tightened, but there is no cause for concern just yet, reports Kit Gillet. However, the central bank is introducing measures to ease the pressure and boost lending.

Two years of low oil prices are draining the ample state coffers of the Gulf's hydrocarbon exporters. The region's finances have been affected and sovereigns are now piling into the international bond market to plug budget deficits. Tom Stevenson reports.

In the immediate aftermath of the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran was looking forward to reaping the benefits of a sanctions-free future. However, major UK and EU banks are holding back on entering the country. James King examines why. 

The Dubai International Financial Centre has risen to become a major trade, investment and logistics hub over the past decade. However, as James King discovers, it is eyeing further growth through its strategy to become a leading global centre by 2024.

Proximity to war-torn Syria is piling on the pressure for Lebanon, which faces plummeting tourist numbers and an influx of refugees. Yet the country's GDP continues to show modest growth, and offshore oil reserves wait to be tapped if the political will can be found.